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NZR Chief Executive Mark Robinson announces surprise departure

Wayneo 45 minutes ago

Undoubtedly the most hated man in South Africa. He received an epic cold shoulder when he visited SA a few years back and rightly deserved it.

Why he lasted so long will remain a mystery. Almost like the NZRU were rubbing it onto our faces.

We did not have to act like them, all we had to do was wait and watch carma do it's thing.

Bulls book Leinster URC showdown but injury to Springbok tarnishes win

SteveD 1 hour ago

And not get sent off for their rank - and typical Northern Transvaal - stupidity!

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SteveD 1 hour ago

Bulls book Leinster URC showdown but injury to Springbok tarnishes win

Sacha has proven potential but that's about it. He played well under Rassie because the latter is a genius, but still got told off for his rank stupidity (and arrogance?) for not declaring his injury. Rassie has also fixed up Roos, who has been playing so much better since being dropped, and is now back thanks to yet another injury to Hanekom. But - and this is probably Plumtree's problem and likely all of them - club coaches don't have Rassie's freedom because money and the club management are always there. And once again, and to be honest a bit fed up with having to remind you, the Stormers play much more as a team when he's not on the field. Yes, they may lose, but they still play ‘n moer of a lot better without him.

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GP 1 hour ago

Whose ship has sailed before the first All Blacks squad?

Justin Marshall is right, Crusaders no 8 Christian Lio-Wilji should make the All Black squad. He has

. one of the form loosies in the comp. He deserved recently getting Crusader of the Year trophy joint with Will Jordan.

Whose ship has sailed before the first All Blacks squad?

Chiefs Mana 1 hour ago

They both put in very good shifts - Papalii should be in the squad 100%, Sotutu did his case a big favour too. No shortage of talent in the loosies:

Savea

Sititi

Lakai

Jacobson

Blackadder

Kirifi

Lio-Willie

Sotutu

Papalii

Finau

Cullen Grace (thought he was the Saders form loosie in first half of season)

Tom Christie (has been very good in recent weeks)

Simon Parker

That’s 13 players who are or could be international caliber. Some real headaches for the selectors.

I wouldn’t say the Chiefs pack got “stuffed” either for what it’s worth ;)

Bulls book Leinster URC showdown but injury to Springbok tarnishes win

SteveD 1 hour ago

But that's my whole and complete point. The Hendrikses are so useless that's why they aren't getting the ball out from the scrums to the wings! They both hold onto the ball too long. The SH's winding-up pass is way too slow at getting the ball to his brother, and the latter hasn't a clue what to do with it hence the wings either don't get it at all, or way too late and they don't have any room to move. Finish and freaking klaar. It's so obvious, but I will agree with you about Plumtree which I made in my first comment - he should not be selecting either of them!

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GM 1 hour ago

Whose ship has sailed before the first All Blacks squad?

You’d presume that these guys are ‘in the know’. If they’re right, and the ‘ship has sailed’ for Sotutu and Papali’i, that is a staggering indictment of the Razor gang! That Chiefs pack has been huge all season - but they tried to take on the Blues through the middle and got stuffed, in large part because of the efforts of those two. If this tough, abrasive, gutsy skillset on both sides of the ball isn’t what the AB selectors are looking for in their test team, god help us!

Blues vs Crusaders | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

Cantab 2 hours ago

Whilst I believe the Crusaders will prevail over the Blues it will be a close game and it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that the latter could cause a further upset. The forward exchanges will be even but the Crusaders do have more flair in their back division. Need to convert that into points on the board though.

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YeowNotEven 2 hours ago

Crusaders captain backs ‘world-class’ Christian Lio-Willie for All Blacks

Chiefs turned up and played their guts out, just didn’t use their tactical smarts and decided to get into the trenches and have a scrap.

'Maybe they can do the same': Chiefs coach wants a favour from the Blues

Chiefs Mana 2 hours ago

Ha yes that’s fair, he could’ve stopped talking after he basically said those exact words. They’re not robots though.

'Maybe they can do the same': Chiefs coach wants a favour from the Blues

SadersMan 2 hours ago

Comms 101 “We’re fully focussed on a very strong Brumbies team”.

‘We’re working really hard’: Super Round could have a brand-new home

SadersMan 2 hours ago

Ohhh, not based on comms from both Crusaders & Matatu. I suspect any home games in early rounds will go to the likes of Nelson & Marlborough etc?

Crusaders captain backs ‘world-class’ Christian Lio-Willie for All Blacks

Chiefs Mana 2 hours ago

Yep, played 10 minutes too many unfortunately.

'Maybe they can do the same': Chiefs coach wants a favour from the Blues

Chiefs Mana 2 hours ago

Yeah I think he’s a good coach…needs to get over the line this season to be considered more than that. Trying to protect a player who’s not 100% isn’t dumb coaching, in my mind.

Unsure what exactly you’re referring to re Razor, he’s largely just carried on what Fozzy was doing (rightly or wrongly), suspect we’ll see his imprint in a much bigger way this year.

NZR Chief Executive Mark Robinson announces surprise departure

SC 3 hours ago

I don’t imagine anyone is too upset to see Mark Robinson go to be honest.

‘We’re working really hard’: Super Round could have a brand-new home

Jackal 3 hours ago

Believe they will still be playing some games there at the start of next season with April the opening date for Te Kaha at this stage

'Maybe they can do the same': Chiefs coach wants a favour from the Blues

SC 3 hours ago

Seems you are okay criticizing Razor coaching decisions but pretty sensitive to any valid criticism of MacMillian.

Crusaders captain backs ‘world-class’ Christian Lio-Willie for All Blacks

MM 3 hours ago

Keep telling yourself this GP but spare us the details for once, there’s a good chap….

Crusaders captain backs ‘world-class’ Christian Lio-Willie for All Blacks

YeowNotEven 3 hours ago

My boys DuPlessis and Samipeni might have played themselves out of contention in the weekend.

Finau’s link play/ball skills wtc was quality, he was busy, but is just too prone to a ‘tarded penalty.

Can’t risk that at international level.